Counterinsurgency troops of the Nigerian Army Quick Response Group conclude their training programme at Jaji.

Trained in the rudiments of CTCOIN operations and deployed straight to the frontlines to gain hands-on experience, battle-seasoned troops such as these who have been extensively deployed in combat by the thousands since 2010, are expected to form the nucleus of the new 7 Infantry Division.

PHOTO CREDIT: NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

VOICE OF NIGERIA
Ben Adam Shemang
Abuja
18 August, 2013

The Nigerian Army is set to take over the
operations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the northeastern part of the country. This is contained in a statement signed in Abuja, by the spokesman for the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade.

“The command of the ongoing internal security operations in the Northeast will
on Monday enter a new phase as the
control of the mission reverts to the
Army Headquarters… Accordingly, a new army division has been created and will take off to continue the counterinsurgency operation with
immediate effect, the statement says.

The military authorities say “it is in line with the plans laid out for the conduct
of the operations to execute the mandate spelt out in the emergency
rule declared by President Jonathan in
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, code-named Operation BOYONA, an acronym derived from the names of the three states..The effort was meant to constitute the first phase of the counter-terrorism operations.

“A General Officer Commanding (GOC) in
the rank of Major General is proposed to
command the new Division which will
have its Headquarters in Maiduguri,” the statement stated. He is due to take over the Command and the assets of the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force.

Advertisements

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About beegeagle

BEEG EAGLE -perspectives of an opinionated Nigerian male with a keen interest in Geopolitics, Defence and Strategic Studies

Well, I just noticed another thing a while ago. Oga Victor scored another hit with this story. He actually indicated this change of guard – JSTF Commander to hand over to new GOC with immediate effect.

Men dey hia 🙂

ELSEWHERE, VICTOR VOLUNTEERED

” I understand that the JTF
commander is expected to hand over to new GOC this week pronto.
Good luck to the new GOC Gen Ethan and well done to Gen Ewansiha
for a job well done”

Am skeptical General. The terrorist group would have appointed and announced a new amir as replacement, besides shekau was in a video recently claiming responsibility for konduga attack. I think major sagir musa addressed the press too soon. My take though.

Granted that they had mentioned this encounter at the Sambisa Game Reserve last month, the evidence appears to be anecdotal at this stage. We need to wait for more concrete details.

What appears certain is that the Deputy Leader, Momodu Bama, has been killed. DHQ, JSTF and MISOP all agree on that, even as the information flow was nearly botched by the rival claims by MISOP who said ‘killed in Mubi’ while JSTF say ‘we did it at Bama’

Such discordant tunes do not bode well though. It should have been left to DHQ who control the JSTF and MISOP to issue the press statement, giving credit where it is due.

As the JSTF wind down operations, it is not unfathomable that they want to make clear the extent of their role in this, so that, assuming this is correct, the credit is not ascribed to 7 Infantry Division.

Going forward, hopefully all battlefield communique at that strategic level are released by the DAPR, General Attahiru or the incoming Asst Director of PR for 7 Division, since the Army SF and 7 Infantry Division troops would all be under the unified command of AHQ.

Surprisingly, similar rival claims emerged in the Niger Delta last week after a barge was successfully rescued, as both JTF and the Navy’s Central Command each staked a claim to having carried out the operation.

Going forward, we need to control the information flow better so that it does not create the impression that these effective operators are working at cross-purposes. That is what the spoilsports at AP would dearly love to report.

However, Having said all of the above, if we critically analyse the recent video by boko-haram shown on CNN and aljazeera, we would see that DHQ’s assertion/ claim is correct. As regards to the rabble-rouser in the recent video been an imposter, DHQ is correct. It is now left for DHQ to prove that he is indeed actually dead.

What struck me first in the video was his antics. He was jumping around like a little girl that had, had a lot of sugar/candy. Hyper and overly dramatic.

Secondly, the guy in the video was bald, with a massive forehead. I don’t think shekau is bald. Although the guy in the video had a few similarities to shekau, it was obvious to me, that the terrorist in that video wasn’t shekau.

Overly-Dramatic+bald+ massive forehead = imposter.

There is no doubt in my mind that the man in the video is an imposter. What is left for the army to do, is to prove that, shekau indeed is dead.

Not like we need him alive for anything. He represents the bloodthirsty and extreme hardline core of BH and if he goes, a lot is bound to change in BH. His erstwhile deputy and main linkman to global terrorists, Al-Barnawi, has branched out to form ANSARU while his new deputy, the bloodthirsty savage that was Momodu Bama has been neutralised for good.

If you can post a screenshot of impostor from the video to me, we can post it here and then access photos of Shekau. Then, everyone can compare and decide.

http://odili.net/news/source/2013/aug/20/12.html
oga beegeagle i at first was skeptical but the arrest of the top INFORMANT OF THE GROUP (unnamed) read likely M-O-L-E.
The sneaking in to a border of Cameroon/ Nigeria town and the exact town literally no man’s town is beginning to add up however we need to question one of his wives three children for ( DNA) and the body ( no photos) for full confirmation.
I NCIDENTALLY THIS IS THE FIRST MENTION OF ACQUIRING JETS FOR “BORDER PATROL” the emphasis on capital letters is mine. OGA XNUR, OGA VICTOR, OGA BEEGEAGLE please clarify jets or turbo props for border patrol , what is going on?.